Puccini celebrates 150th birthday at Irvine Bowl

Another night of “Opera Under the Stars” is in store for Laguna Beach.

For the second year in a row, Opera Pacific is bringing its singing stars to the Irvine Bowl.

The show, titled “Puccini Passion,” will pay special tribute to the 150th anniversary of the opera composer’s birth, and feature selections from his most romantic and popular operas such as the “Donde lieta usci” from “La Bohéme” and “E lucevan le stelle” from “Tosca.” The program will also include works from opera’s golden era such as “Falstaff” by Verdi and “Pagliacci” by Leoncavallo.

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor John DeMain will lead the Opera Pacific Orchestra and Chorus, accompanying an all-star cast of singers including Grammy Award-winning soprano Ana Maria Martinez, playing opposite her husband, tenor Chad Shelton; baritone Quinn Kelsey, direct from the Metropolitan Opera; as well as soprano Shana Blake Hill, mezzo-soprano Cynthia Jansen and tenor Ernest Alvarez.

The Festival grounds will open at 5 p.m. for picnicking and pre-concert socializing. Bristol Farms will provide picnic dinners for purchase at the event, or they can be ordered in advance for pick-up at the event by calling (949) 760-6514.

The outdoor concert is a preview of the opera company’s 2008-09 main stage season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, which will open with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” Oct. 22 to Nov. 1.

This will be followed by the West Coast premiere of composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Michael Korie’s new American opera “The Grapes of Wrath.” Based on the novel by John Steinbeck, the opera will have four performances from Jan. 21 to 31.

Also, Deborah Voigt will star in Richard Strauss’ “Salome” for four performances from Oct. 22 to Nov. 1, in a new production from stage director Francesca Zambello of Chicago Lyric Opera fame.

“We have chosen three blockbusters for the 2008-09 season — each one strikingly different from the other two; a beloved comedy steeped in operatic tradition; the West Coast premiere of a ground-breaking epic, the biggest production in our history; and the appearance of one of opera’s true superstars in one of her signature roles. It will be an Opera Pacific season like no other,” Opera Pacific President and chief executive Robert C. Jones said.

“The diversity of this season will not only delight and inspire our audiences, but should have a deeply felt impact on the entire West Coast,” said Artistic Director John DeMain.

For more information, visit www.operapacific.org or call (800) 346-7372.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Opera Under the Stars: Puccini Passion”

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sept. 13

WHERE: Irvine Bowl, Festival of Arts grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road

COST: $30 to $100

TICKETS: (800) 346-7372, or online, www.operapacific.org

OTHER: Picnicking on the grounds at 5 p.m.

CINDY FRAZIER is city editor of the Coastline Pilot. She can be contacted at (949) 494-2087 or [email protected].